Farhat Bengdara has resigned as head of Libya’s National Oil Corporation (NOC) due to urgent health issues that required him to take extended leave for back surgery. His resignation, which was accepted by Prime Minister Abdulhamid Dbeibah, marks the end of his tenure, which began in July 2022.
In response to Bengdara’s resignation, Dbeibah appointed Masoud Sulaiman, an NOC board member, as acting head of the corporation. The NOC has pledged to continue working towards maintaining the stability of Libya’s oil sector, a critical part of the country’s economy.
Bengdara had previously submitted his resignation on three occasions over the past year, citing the need for medical treatment. His departure comes at a challenging time for Libya’s oil sector, which has faced repeated disruptions due to political instability and armed conflict. Most recently, the NOC declared force majeure after the Zawiya refinery was severely damaged in clashes between rival groups.
